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At a group instructors meeting recently, someone referred to BodyPump as a cardio class and that it coulldn't be classified as strength training.  Tell me how you feel about that statement.  I have to run off and teach a noon class so I'll make my own comments later.

 

Angi  - Body Pump instructor for 7 years

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Angi P, Louisiana

In my opinion, it can be both cardio and strength training because most of releases mixed them

 Good example : BP 71#

 

Francois

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Another BP, BA, BC, BJ and RPM freak Quarterlies in Paris, March : 03/12-13-14/2010 http://animoto.com/play/zB4oi9QgG0qnUSWmFPYi3A? On twitter : Tiger75Paris

I consider it a conditioning (resistance) class. By virtue of the fact that you are using some of your large muscle groups, your heart rate will go up in some parts. In my opinion, almost every type of exercise can have a small cardio component, even if it's not "cardio" per se.

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www.thewellnessshift.com

angiplaisance:

At a group instructors meeting recently, someone referred to BodyPump as a cardio class and that it coulldn't be classified as strength training.

Perhaps you could post their reason for making that statement.

It probably doesn't matter as Erin says. After all, what is cardio? If it just means getting one's heart rate up to a certain level, then practically any exercise could count including traditional "strength training". I wouldn't be surprised if that comment came from someone who does free weights and doesn't really consider the relatively lighter weights characteristic in Pump as worthy or challenging.

For the people who lift little weight by comparison to what they are capable of, then I suppose the class does act as more of a "cardio" workout than "strength training".

However there is potential to lift a fair amount (as a %age of bodyweight) in which case it can be a good resistance training discipline. Certainly my strength has increased over time as a result of doing Pump as confirmed by a correlated increase in my 1RM.

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Recently published - my review of BodyPump 73 is available on my blog at:
http://rickinoz.com/2010/03/07/bodypump-73-review

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The forum member "pipera" is not a Les Mills Instructor, though his posts, signature and profile will falsely claim otherwise.

Since he has been economical with the truth on his profile, read the real facts here.

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There was a research titled "Physiologic and Metabolic Responses to a Body Pump Workout" that went into lengthy and scientific explanation on that, but that link doesn't work anymore :(.

In overall, Bodypump is not a cardio class by exact measurement of several parameters (VOX etc etc), but it could be by perceived exertion and that varies from one to another.

 rgds

shine 

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Life is indeed simple, but it is complicated to live simply...

We are having a PHYSATHLON at the gym...the members need to try all kinds of different things within the gym to get a t shirt.  The have flexibilty, aquatics, strength training,cardio (not in group ex) and group exercise as the categories.  He stated that BP didn't count from strength training and of course I asked why.  He said that it was a cardio class and just didn't count as strength training because of the number of repetitions.  I thought he had a bit of attitude when he said that as he demonstrated doing a clean & press with a smile on his face as he threw up his arms easily .  I do have to say I was highly offended.  I USE alot of weight and I've worked my weight up in the last 11 years that I have been doing it.   I have gotten so much stronger. My heart rate gets up in squats and back but I wouldn't say that is stays up in a moderate high range for long perods of time. I think of it as strength endurance.  I've  always told my class that it was a strength training class and as effective (of course my opinion    :-)  ) as the weight room as long as they didn't stay at the same weightload and challenged  themselves regularly. 

I'm sure I am just a bit touchy (there are those weight room people that don't really see BP efficacy and they tell you so - often!)  I just wanted to see what other people thought! 

Thanks!

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Angi P, Louisiana

angiplaisance:

I've  always told my class that it was a strength training class and as effective (of course my opinion    :-)  ) as the weight room as long as they didn't stay at the same weightload and challenged  themselves regularly.

This is an Apples and Oranges situation.

We're trying to achieve a different objective in BP vs what people doing free weights are after. The whole high-rep-low-weight/low-rep-high-weight principle.

So both can be efficacious .... depending on what you're aiming to achieve. And no reason why they can't complement one another as mentioned here.

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Recently published - my review of BodyPump 73 is available on my blog at:
http://rickinoz.com/2010/03/07/bodypump-73-review

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The forum member "pipera" is not a Les Mills Instructor, though his posts, signature and profile will falsely claim otherwise.

Since he has been economical with the truth on his profile, read the real facts here.

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I'm with Trans on the subject of BP being Cardio.  It all depends to a large extent where you're coming from.  I started doing duathlons in 96 and triathlons starting 99 so most tracks don't get my heart rate elevated significantly whereas much of the class is puffing. 

angiplaisance:

At a group instructors meeting recently, someone referred to BodyPump as a cardio class and that it coulldn't be classified as strength training.  Tell me how you feel about that statement.  I have to run off and teach a noon class so I'll make my own comments later.

Angi  - Body Pump instructor for 7 years

Hi Bodypump is a cardio - resistance based class. Tracks 2, 4, 7 and 8 are the cardio power house of Bodypump where you lift your heart rate. it is in the different set levels that your heart rate rises and cardio breath comes into play. Even Emma, Mike, Susan, Glen, Tommy K, Alani, Karen, Ruthie T,  have emphasised this in class especially in tracks 2 and 4.

Anything by where you breathe is cardio :)

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pipera:

...  cardio power house ... you lift your heart rate ...your heart rate rises and cardio breath comes into play ... Anything by where you breathe is cardio

Any exercise regardless of type or intensity will increase one's heart rate. Trying to dictate a certain working bpm range as "cardio" is meaningless, just as with breathing rate. Equally, you're never going to hold your breath during exercise, so that would make everything cardio then.

"Cardio" is just a buzz-word anyway. I suspect what the OP's antagoniser was actually getting at was the aerobic vs anaerobic aspect.

But even this is an artificial construct as the body will always try to work aerobically, and only activate anaerobic processes if VO2 is exceeded. This too could be achieved through any exercise discipline depending on intensity and the individual's VO2max.

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Recently published - my review of BodyPump 73 is available on my blog at:
http://rickinoz.com/2010/03/07/bodypump-73-review

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The forum member "pipera" is not a Les Mills Instructor, though his posts, signature and profile will falsely claim otherwise.

Since he has been economical with the truth on his profile, read the real facts here.

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pipera:

Hi Bodypump is a cardio - resistance based class. Tracks 2, 4, 7 and 8 are the cardio power house of Bodypump where you lift your heart rate. it is in the different set levels that your heart rate rises and cardio breath comes into play. Even Emma, Mike, Susan, Glen, Tommy K, Alani, Karen, Ruthie T,  have emphasised this in class especially in tracks 2 and 4.

Anything by where you breathe is cardio :)

Tracks 2 and 4, I'd agree, have the biggest cardiovascular components in Pump. To borrow terms from RPM, I'm certainly "uncomfortable" after these tracks, but not quite "breathless." There is still room for me personally to breathe a little harder. I don't personally agree with tracks 7 and 8 being anywhere close to 2 & 4 in terms of hard breathing, but I'd bet that varies from person to person... I know some peeps find the shoulder track really "breathtaking," but I don't think it is universally accepted as one of the cardio tracks in Pump. You can name-drop all you like and it won't change my opinion on this, BTW.

In my years of teaching Pump, I've never ever heard anyone - trainer, program coach, program director - refer to it as a cardio class. In layman's terms (and in the terms GFMs sometimes use when plannig schedules*), the average person considers a "cardio class" one like Step, Combat, Attack, RPM, Jam, etc. where you're moving your appendages around, propelling your body weight in some fashion, and elevating your heart rate for the majority of the class. BodyPump uses a barbell, so to me that obviously pushes it into the category of "conditioning." Heart rate is only really elevated for two tracks - about 10 minutes in total. And to be honest, many participants aren't even pushing themselves that hard, so their heart rate may never really go up much at all.

(*RE: the schedule thing. GFMs will often group classes into either the "cardio" or "conditioning" category in order to help out the balance of the schedule. When building a schedule, you'd ideally - but not always - want to try to have balanced classes back to back; so you might go Cardio-Conditioning-Cardio - or, for example Combat-Pump-Step. That way members could feasibly do a Combat/Pump double or a Pump/Step double. Conditioning and cardio = a truly well-rounded workout, at least as far as the group ex studio can offer.)

 

P.S. I'm breathing right now. Does sitting in my office writing web copy count as my cardiovascular workout for the day?

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www.thewellnessshift.com

I also find tracks 2 and 4 the most cardio in BP

As for track 8, it generally uses more strength than cardio

 

Francois

 

 

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Another BP, BA, BC, BJ and RPM freak Quarterlies in Paris, March : 03/12-13-14/2010 http://animoto.com/play/zB4oi9QgG0qnUSWmFPYi3A? On twitter : Tiger75Paris

ErinC:

--- Does sitting in my office writing web copy count as my cardiovascular workout for the day?

I just read in a magazine about these two guys in Stockholm who don’t have time to exercise after work. They have modified stationary bikes instead of office chairs. Sitting at their desks, they bike between 20 and 60 km a day. Mr T goes slow, so he won’t sound too funny answering his phone, Mr C does shorter bursts and has installed a fan so he doesn’t get too hot. They are making an imaginary round the world-trip, Mr T going west and Mr C going east.

The article doesn’t say how they smell by the end of the day.

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BODYSTEP participant since January 2008, BODYPUMP participant since February 2009.

Sweet! One time I contemplated getting rid of my living room furniture - couch, chair, loveseat - and replacing it with a stationary bike, treadmill and a rowing machine.  

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www.thewellnessshift.com

I find this inspiring. I wanted one of those "exerball" office chair thingies and worried that it would be too off-the wall. THIS, however, makes that look rather tame.

 

Wonder if my boss would be ok with my having a treadmill and a high desk.....

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Certified Body Combat and Body Pump instructor, Spin certified cycle instructor, Certified Personal Trainer.